Buffett draws big crowd to Ala. coast

Many of the people on Gulf Coast beaches seem to be workers cleaning up the oil, or officials inspecting the damage, but as NBC’s Michelle Franzen reports, thanks to Jimmy Buffett, that will finally change.

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This content comes from a Full-Text Transcript of the program.

LESTER HOLT, anchor:Most of the people on the
Gulf Coast
beaches this summer seem to be workers cleaning up the oil, or officials inspecting the damage from the leak. Not tonight, though.
NBC
's
Michelle Franzen
joins us from
Gulf Shores
,
Alabama
,

to explain why. Michelle:Well,
Lester
, this is a scene the
Gulf Shores
has not seen in more than two

MICHELLE FRANZEN reporting:thousands of people filling the sugar sand beaches here in
Alabama
, all to see
Jimmy Buffett
and friends play a free benefit concert here tonight. Of course, 35,000 free tickets in all distributed, a third to hotels and rentals in the area, all to attract tourists and also help boost the local economy hurt by oil-tainted beaches of this last month. Of course,
Buffett
likely the biggest draw, but more free events planned in the coming months,
Lester
, to let everyone know the
Gulf Coast
is still open for business.

months:Nice to see that community getting a much-needed shot in the arm today.
Michelle Franzen
in
Gulf Shores
, thank you